A respectful discovery of

the Mediterranean lagoons

“What if we set off to visit the lagoons ? ”

Welcome to the lagoons!

I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Sterna Albifrons (Little Tern) but some people also call me “Sea Swallow”. During the breeding season, my bill is very yellow with a black tip and my forehead is white in contrast with the top of my head and the black stripe on my eye.

You’ll see! It’s very pleasant to live here. Located between land and sea, it’s made

of dunes, salt meadows, brackish marshes, tidal marshes, magnificent reed beds

and ponds. I share my habitat with humans, plants and other animals that you

could discover all along your visit.

Like us, humans have always used this space for many activities. There are about

232 bird species here, which is more than 70% of the species found in France!

However, for us, waterbirds, only these spaces can provide for us! That’s why it’s

important to protect them.

During your walk, stay quiet and leave no trace of your presence. Think of my

family, don’t take any plants from my habitat; take photos instead! If your dogs

are kept on a leash and you are quiet, my chicks will grow peacefully on their

sand islands.

French Mediterranean lagoons were created about 2000 years ago by

the isolation of marine water masses due to the accumulation of sand

and pebbles brought by rivers and water ways.

There are 22 large lagoons and many coastal marshes that are present

along the Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and

Corsica coasts. Like all wetlands, Mediterranean lagoons are known

for their incredible biological diversity and numerous services

they provide us: among other things, they protect the peripheral

urbanized areas from floods, purify water, and provide leisure space...

It’s a shallow coastal body of water (less than 10 metres deep)

separated from the sea by a sand dune called “lido”. The lagoon com-

municates with the sea under the influence of weather conditions

through one or several passages called “grau”. It is also supplied with

freshwater coming from rivers and stormwater runoff upstream,

that’s why the lagoon water is more or less salty.

Let’s continue our visit...…

2 3

If you don’t see me, follow my tracks...

So let’s go for a walk?

You’re coming just at the right time!

This is where I live during the summer.

Sterna albifrons

Follow me, I’m going to show you where I live: in the lagoon.

Rain

Inlet / outletwater

Sea

Lagoon

Run off

Evaporation

ResurgencesLido

Grau

But, by the way, do you know what a lagoon is?

After «Les lagunes languedociennes» - les Écologistes de l’Euzière

4 5

Fishing Fishing (Atherina, eel, wolfish...) is the oldest ac-

tivity undertaken in the lagoons. Several hundred

professional fishermen use the lagoons based on

a traditional know-how.

Shellfish farmingBy the end of the 19th century, shellfish farming appeared in

the “Bassin de Thau” and was then developed in some lagoons.

Nowadays, the production represents 10% of the French oyster

production. This activity, as fishing, depends on the environmen-

tal quality.

Rice farmingIt is common in Camargue (98% of the national rice

production) Because of environmental constraints

(soil salinity), rice producers use various techniques,

especially soil irrigation.

Salt productionSince Antiquity, salt is exploited along the French Medi-

terranean coasts. Today, the “Salins du Midi” harvest

about 700 000 tonnes of salt every year in Aigues-Mortes

and Salin-de-Giraud in Camargue.

Waterfowl huntingPreviously reserved for the nobility, it’s now a tra-

ditional leisure activity with approximately

15 000 hunters in the Mediterranean Lagoons.

Reed harvestAppeared in the Middle Ages, the reed was cut during

the summer for horse forage and during the winter, for

the construction of traditional homes.

Today, the preservation of old reed beds allows some

bird species like the Eurasian Bittern and the purple

Heron to reproduce.

Extensive grazingAlong the lagoons, there are Camargue bulls and Camargue

horses. They live in herds called “Manades”. This type of

extensive grazing plays an important role for the environ-

ment. When it is applied, it takes part in the conservation

of biodiversity and maintains the landscape quality. Livestock are primar-

ily bred for traditional bull games.

ViticultureThere are many “Vins des Sables” (sand wines),

produced on the back dunes, and also “Vins de Pays”

(local wines) and “AOC” (controlled designation of ori-

gin) produced in the peripherical lagoon areas. These

cultures characterized by original grapevines, have been preserved

from the most threatening parasites by winter flood-

ing and sandy soils.

Open air activitiesHiking, windsurfing, horseback riding, and mountain

biking are the most popular leisure activities.

Human activities in the Mediterranean lagoons

French Mediterranean lagoons

Crédits : pôle lagunes / RDMédias

C

E

E

C

The lagoon,

The European beachgrass fixes the dunes made by the wind. Its thick and coated

leaves allow it to resist the aridity of the sand hills.

Often observed in the lagoons, this slender bird has beautiful pink feathers because it feeds on

pink shrimp, called brine shrimp.

Easy to recognize because of the yellow spots on its head, you can

observe the European pond turtle sunbathing on the bank. But do not mistake it for the red-eared slider. It

would be upset!

In the heart of the old reed beds, the Eurasian Bittern is hard to observe with its feathers similar to the reed color. However, it is possible to hear it because its call is like

a foghorn.

The soil of the coastal marshes is extremely salty. Plants have adapted to

evacuate the excess salt.Look at the red color of the salicornia and the crystals on the inner part of

the Sea Lavender leaves!Nothing is better than the long legs, the long neck and the long bill of the

Black-winged Stilt and the Black-capped Avocet to fish in the shallow

waters of the lagoons.

The sea The lagoon The marshThe dune The reed bedThe salt meadowThe glasswort

The Common Reed or Phragmites

The European Pond Turtle

The Sardinian Tree Frog

The Spanish Psammodromus

The Sea Daffodil

The European Beachgrass

The Spiral Tasselweed

The Avocet

The Sea Lavander

The Tamarix

The Sea Rush

Look attentively at this lizard.Can you see it in the sand of the dune? Of course it’s not easy; the color of its scales is the same as

the sand of the dune! It’s the phenomenon of camouflage.

It allows this lizard to escape from its predators.

The Greater Flamingo

an incredible biological biodiversity

and its Corsica

cousin

From the sea to the land, landscapes change according to the salinity:The Purple Heron

The Mediterranean Tree Frog

The Yellow Flag Iris

The Zitting Cisticola

The EelThe Salicornia

The Black-winged Stilt

The Eurasian Bittern

Vie sociale

Envergure

Alimentation

Famille

Signes distinctifs

Longeur 21-25 cm 41-47 cmpoissons, petits crustassés...

niche en petites colonies sur les plages

340138483062A

6 6 1 1

39505011949A313430138483062A2B881

Game page

1 : Containing a mixture of seawater and fresh water.

2 : Dune ribbon separating the sea from the lagoon.

3 : Place where you must walk so as not to weaken the natural environment.

4 :

5 : Plant with mauve flowers living on salty soils, which eliminates the salt excess absorbed by its leaves.

6 : Object that allows you to observe animals without bothering them.

7 : Green amphibian, I have suction cups under my feet that allow me to climb on branches.

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2

3

4

6

5

7

Tern’s Family 1

2

3

4

6

5

7

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Can youfif ill in my ID card?

Answers: 1: Brackish - 2: Lido - 3: Path - 4: Tern - 5: Sea Lavender6: Binoculars - 7: Tree frog - The tern belongs to the family LARIDAE like gulls.

Answers: My name is Sterna Albifrons, the Little Tern. Distinctive signs: a yellow bill with a black tip and a white forehead in contrast with the top of my head and a black stripe on my eye.

Yummy recipe This visit open my appetite,

are you hungry too?

Discover a delicious dish… a recipe made with lagoon products:

Oysters au gratinPreparation time: 30 mins - Baking time: 20 mins

Ingredients (for 4 persons):• Two dozen large Mediterranean oysters• Two shallots• Local dry white wine• Breadcrumbs

Preparation:Open the oysters, drain the water and cut the “tendon”.Finely chop the shallot and then put it on the oysters.Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and wet with the white wine without flooding the shell. It has to stay damp and not wet.

Bake in the oven at 200°C for approximately 10 minutes and broil another 10 minutes until breadcrumbs are brown.

Serve hot.

Find the family to wich I belong, solve this crossword puzzle !

Useful contactsYou would like to know more? Do not hesitate to contact your “visitor centre”.

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It could help you to do guided nature tours and discover amazing areas, according to the seasons and their particularities.

Websites:Education structures for the coastal environment of:• Languedoc Roussillon : www.grainelr.org• Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur : www.reseaumer.org and www.grainepaca.org• Corsica : www.oec.frTo know more about the Mediterranean lagoons: www.pole-lagunes.org, www.lifelagnature.org/actualites and www.lagunesettourisme.org

Booklet conceived and published in 2013 by :

With the support of the Mediterranean lagoon managers and tourism professionals.

With the financial support:

Project financed at 50% by the tool LIFE+ for the European Union environment.

Page 12 – Dos de couverture :

Contacts utiles

Envie d’en savoir plus ? N’hésitez pas à contacter votre office de tourisme, il pourra vous orienter vers des balades nature, guidées, qui vous feront découvrir ces sites remarquables, en fonction des saisons et de leurs particularités.prévoir place pour ajouter manuellement les contacts locaux

Les liens internet :- les structures d'éducation à l'environnement du littoral :

• du Languedoc Roussillon : http://grainelr.org/papyrus.php?menu=348 • de PACA : http://www.reseaumer.org/ • de Corse : http://www.oec.fr/

- Pour en savoir + sur les lagunes méditerranéennes : www.pole-lagunes.org et www.lifelagnature.fr

_______________

Brochure conçue et éditée par :

Avec l’appui des gestionnaires de lagunes méditerranéennes et des professionnels du tourisme.

Avec le soutien financier de :

Page 12 – Dos de couverture :

Contacts utiles

Envie d’en savoir plus ? N’hésitez pas à contacter votre office de tourisme, il pourra vous orienter vers des balades nature, guidées, qui vous feront découvrir ces sites remarquables, en fonction des saisons et de leurs particularités.prévoir place pour ajouter manuellement les contacts locaux

Les liens internet :- les structures d'éducation à l'environnement du littoral :

• du Languedoc Roussillon : http://grainelr.org/papyrus.php?menu=348 • de PACA : http://www.reseaumer.org/ • de Corse : http://www.oec.fr/

- Pour en savoir + sur les lagunes méditerranéennes : www.pole-lagunes.org et www.lifelagnature.fr

_______________

Brochure conçue et éditée par :

Avec l’appui des gestionnaires de lagunes méditerranéennes et des professionnels du tourisme.

Avec le soutien financier de :

Ne pas jeter sur la voie publique. do not throw on public areas.Document imprimé par un imprimeur Imprim’Vert sur papier 100% recyclé avec des encres à base végétale.

Réédition 2015.

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